Sign-flasher switch



March 5, 1929. CHANCE SIGN FLASHER SWITCH Filed Dec. 21, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet lAw'mvce E, CHANCE March 5, 1929. L. E. CHANCE SIGN FLASHER SWITCH Filed Dec. 21, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 51.9 Lmvnsmz C4ANCE/ Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE E. CHANCE, OF ST. LOUIS, HISSOUBI, ASSIGNOB OI ONE-HALF TO ALEX- ANDER MILTENBEBGm OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SIGN-FLASHEB swrrcn Continuation of application Serial No.

This case is a continuation of ap lication Serial No. 118,271 which was filed une 24,- 1926.

This invention relatesto improvements in a sign flasher switch which makes use of a thermostatic element for making and breaking' the circuit so as to intermittently flash an electric light and which requires no constant- 1y moving part for the actuation thereof.

A further object is to provide a switch that will require in the operationjthereof, a minimum consumption of current.

A still further object is to provide a switch which makes use of a small number of parts which are economical to manufacture and which can be placed in close proximity to the ordinary lamp socket and may constitute the base thereof.

This improvement consists in the novel construction arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter fully, clearly and concisely described, definitely pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of'drawingsjn which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing two socket supports having my invention therein joined together in series;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of a lamp socket with the lamp removed showing the socket mounted upon a base in which my thermostatic switch is located;

Fig. 8 is a bottom elevational view of the lamp support with the two bottom plates removed showing the operative elements in my invention Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view having parts thereof in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the thermostatic element, and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the thermostatic clement.

Referring to the drawings A indicates generally my lamp socket support which is composed of the four horizontally disposed elements 1, 2, 3, 4, which when assembled act as a container and insulator for my switch device. Upon the support A is mounted a lamp socket B which can be of any well known description by means of the screws 5.

The lamp socket is provided with the usual circuit terminals 6 and 7.

The terminal 7 is connected by a connec- 118,271, filed June 24', 1926. This application filed. December 21, 1926. Serial No. 156,142.

tion 14 tothe head of a binding post 8 at one side of the element 9 which is a. block of insulatmg material disposed in a rectangular recess 10 in the element, 2. The binding post 8 extends through the block 9 and is securely fastened thereto by the. nut 11. Below the nut 11 is secured one end of the connection 12 which leads to any suitable source of electric power. The connection 12 is secured to the binding post by meansof the nut 13. Connected also to the binding post 8 is a connection 15 which leads to a thermostatic element 16 which is composed of two dissimilar pieces of metal 17 and 18. The thermostatic element 16 is connected at one end to a block 19 extending downwardly from the block 9. The element 16 is secured to the block 19 by the head of a binding post 20 which extends horizontally through the block 19. The connection 15 is wound around the element 16 from the end which is secured to the block 19 towards the other end of the thermostatic element 16 and the free end thereof is soldered and makes connection with the plate 17 of the thermostatic element 16, at 21. The connection 15 is silk covered or is provided with any other suitable insulation throughout the portions thereof which are wound around the element 16 so as to insulate the connection 15 from the element 16 until it makes contact therewith at 21. The connection 15 is secured to the binding post 8 by the nut 22.

The binding post 20 has secured to it upon the side opposite where the thermostatic element 16 is secured a connection 23 which leads to the terminal 6 of the lamp socket. The connection 23 is secured to the binding post by the nut 24.

Projecting downwardly from the block 9 is another block 25 which may be integral therewith and positioned horizontally inthe block 25 is a binding post 26 the head of which securesa spring contact connection 27 which is bent so as to be in close proximity with the thermostatic element 16. A nut and bolt 28.

assists in securing the contact27 to the side of the block 25. The binding-post 26 extends through the block 25 and is secured thereto tions 12 and 30 by means of a master time switch when it is desired to start the flasher at apredetermined time each day, assuming that the parts are in the relation shown in Figure? a circuit will pass from the connection 30, through the contact 27, the element 16, the binding post 20, the connection 23, the terminal 6, thence through the lamp to the terminal 7, through the connection 14, the

binding post 8 and then to the connection 12.

At the same time, a shunt circuit of small amperage is set up through the connection 15 and the element 16. This circuit is not sufficient' to short circuit the lamp but it is suflicient since the coil is of high resistance wire to heat the thermostatic element 16 and thereby cause it to bend away from the. contact 27 thereby breakin the circuit through the lamp. The brealiing of the circuit through the lamp immediately breaks the shunt circuit through the connection 15 which is coiled about the element 16 and causes the thermostatic element to cool. As it cools it again comes into contact with the contact 27 again establishing the circuit through the lamp when the process is again repeated.

It will be noted that time interval between the flashes can be easily adjusted by adjusting the proximity of the contact 27 to the end of the thermostatic element 16 by bending it for instance.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the invention above set forth without departing from the real purpose and spirit thereof, and itis the intention to cover by the following claims, any modified forms of structure or use of equivalents, which may be reasonably included within theirscope.

I claim:

1. In a sign flasher switch, the combination of an ordinary incandescent lamp socket with terminals a support therefor, an electrical resistance heat actuated contactor comcontactor co-acting with a flexible contact element and said support being composed of detachable sections.

2. In a light flashing device, a support for a lamp socket, said support being composed of horizontally disposed detachable elements of insulating material, the central elements having coinciding recesses therein and a block disposed in said recesses carrying a thermostatic make and break switch.

3. The combination with a support, of an electric lamp socket thereon and having terminals, connections from a source of electrical power to said terminals, a thermostatic elcmen't arranged between the connections, and shunt lead from one of the connections and wrapping the element, said support including a plurality of separable sections, one of the sections next to the outermost of the group being cut away and forming a chamber for the element and shunt lead.

4. In a light flashing device, a support having separable sections, a lamp socket exteriorly of and carried by one outer section of the support and having terminals, a removable block housed within the sections of the support, one section next to the block being pocketed, and a thermostatic make and break switch controlling the electrical source of the power to the terminals, confined in the pocket and carried by the block.

5. In a light flashing device, a support having separable sections, a lamp socket exteriorily of and carried by one outer section of the support and having terminals, a removable block housed within the sections of the support, one section next to the block being pocketed, and a thermostatic make and break switch controlling the electrical source of the power to the terminals, confined in the pocket and carried by the block, the make and break switch including a coacting thermostat and flexible contact.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

LAWRENCE E. CHANCE. 

